Genesis 13:6

13:6 But the land could 1  not support them while they were living side by side. 2  Because their possessions were so great, they were not able to live 3  alongside one another.

Genesis 13:11

13:11 Lot chose for himself the whole region of the Jordan and traveled 4  toward the east.

So the relatives separated from each other. 5 

1 tn The potential nuance for the perfect tense is necessary here, and supported by the parallel clause that actually uses “to be able.”

2 tn The infinitive construct לָשֶׁבֶת (lashevet, from יָשַׁב, yashav) explains what it was that the land could not support: “the land could not support them to live side by side.” See further J. C. de Moor, “Lexical Remarks Concerning Yahad and Yahdaw,” VT 7 (1957): 350-55.

3 tn The same infinitive occurs here, serving as the object of the verb.

4 tn Heb “Lot traveled.” The proper name has not been repeated in the translation at this point for stylistic reasons.

5 tn Heb “a man from upon his brother.”

sn Separated from each other. For a discussion of the significance of this event, see L. R. Helyer, “The Separation of Abram and Lot: Its Significance in the Patriarchal Narratives,” JSOT 26 (1983): 77-88.